Cryoneurectomy in the horse.

Cryoneurectomy was performed experimentally on 10 digital plantar nerves of normal horses. All nerves were frozen to -30 C, using a double freeze-thaw cycle. Nerves were harvested at 10 days and at 4, 12, 16, and 24 weeks and were examined histologically for evidence of regeneration. The terminal portion of the transected nerves treated with cryosurgery did not have any signs of regeneration or neuroma formation at these periods. Cryoneurectomy was performed on 101 nerves of 32 horses with diseases requiring neurectomy. Twenty-seven of these nerves had been subjected to previous neurectomy, and painful neuromas had developed. After cryoneurectomy, painful neuroma formation was 15% in this group and was 4% in the nerves that had not had a neurectomy prior to cryoneurectomy. Neuritis lasting 10 days developed in 1 horse.